Experts advise farmers on protecting land rights

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Land is a necessary prerequisite for anyone intending to start a farm. However, with the rapidly growing population today, many people find themselves without land, while others face encroachment on their property.

During the first day of the Harvest Money Expo at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, Catherine Baine-Omugisha, a conflict mitigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution advocate with Baine-Omugisha Legal Consultants & Advocates, explained several causes of land disputes and how to deal with them promptly.

“Otherwise, if you fail to do so, it will interfere with your farm establishment and production output, hence eating into your profits.”

Causes of land disputes

Baine-Omugisha said one major cause is family-owned land where the actual owner is not clearly identified.

“In a family setting, you might not find who exactly owns the land. Some sections of the family may believe they are more advantaged than others, so some members suffer,” she said

In addition, Baine-Omugisha noted that some bibanja holders or tenants occupy land illegally. She added that conflicts may also arise between the state and individuals or groups, creating persistent friction that must be addressed if a farmer is to progress.

Otherwise, Baine-Omugisha warned, a farmer may end up losing crops and animals, resulting in economic and mental distress.

“Land disputes have far-reaching effects,” she observed. “We appeal to farmers to avoid them or resolve them in the most amicable way.”

How to solve them

Before acquiring land, Baine-Omugisha advises buyers to ensure that the person selling the land is the rightful owner. If the land is inherited, she says the seller must have valid letters of administration or proper court documents.

“You need to know that letters of administration have an expiry date since 2025,” she emphasised.

“Ask the person to provide valid and up-to-date letters. If you take that risk, you may find that the person was never authorised to sell.”

She noted that sometimes people buy wrong property because they have no professional guidance. In case of any problems, Baine-Omugisha recommends seeking professional support from licensed lawyers, land agents and surveyors. Once you have established that the seller is the rightful owner, ensure that proper documentation is completed.

“If you have bought land, have all the documents, including the transfer papers and transfer it immediately,” she said.

She warned that delays may allow someone else to sell the land or change the title, which could result in loss of ownership.

Ugandans who are interested in this and more knowledge can visit the Expo with an entrance fee of sh10,000 and training for sh10,000.

It is sponsored by the Kingdom of Netherlands, Engineering Solutions (ENGSOL), Tunga Nutrition, aBi, Pearl Bank and Uganda Development Corporation. Other sponsors are Heifer International, Roke Telecom, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).